Muhlenberg College vs. Olin College

Should I go to Muhlenberg College or Olin College of Engineering? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Muhlenberg College or Olin College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Muhlenberg College vs. Olin College of Engineering comparison
Muhlenberg College Olin College of Engineering College 3 College 4
Muhlenberg College Olin College of Engineering
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Overview

Muhlenberg College Olin College
Location Allentown, PA Needham, MA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,818 402
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #92
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website muhlenberg.edu olin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Muhlenberg College Olin College
Tuition (In State) $59,505 $59,972
Tuition (Out of State) $59,505 $59,972
Room & Board $13,955 $19,820
Avg Net Price $31,814 $40,370
Avg Grant Aid $42,021 $41,116
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Muhlenberg College Olin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,348 928
Admitted 2,783 201
Acceptance Rate 64% 21.7%
Enrolled % 15.3% 48.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.44 3.9
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 28/31 34/35
SAT Range 1230/1400 1480/1560
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Muhlenberg College Olin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (100%)

Outcomes

Muhlenberg College Olin College
Graduation Rate 86% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $63,700 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 84% -
Median Student Loan Debt $26,490 $14,710
Median Loan Payment $273 $152

Diversity

Muhlenberg College Olin College
% Men 1% 4%
% Women 1% 3%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 75% 53%
% Black 3% 0%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 3% 8%
% Unknown Race 8% 11%

Students

Muhlenberg College Olin College
% In-State 31% 12%
% Out-of-State 68% 79%

Campus

Muhlenberg College Olin College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Muhlenberg College is larger than than Olin College based on total student enrollment (1,818 students vs. 402 students)

Muhlenberg College vs. Olin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Muhlenberg College or Olin College?

  • Olin College of Engineering is 0.8% more expensive to attend than Muhlenberg College for in-state tuition ($59,972.00 vs. $59,505.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.8% higher at Olin College than Muhlenberg College ($59,972.00 vs. $59,505.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Muhlenberg College than Olin College ($31,814 vs. $40,370)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Muhlenberg College are 42% lower than costs at Olin College of Engineering ($13,955 vs. $19,820)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Olin College of Engineering than Muhlenberg College (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Muhlenberg College students is 2.2% larger than aid received Olin College of Engineering ($42,021 vs. $41,116)

Muhlenberg College vs. Olin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Muhlenberg College or Olin College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Olin College or Muhlenberg College .

  • Accepted freshman Olin College students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Muhlenberg College (3.44)
  • Muhlenberg College has a higher acceptance rate (64%) than Olin College (21.7%)

Muhlenberg College vs. Olin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Muhlenberg College or Olin College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Olin College and Muhlenberg College.

  • The graduation rate at Olin College is higher than Muhlenberg College (96% vs. 86%)
  • Olin College of Engineering students graduate with a $11,780 lower median federal student loan debt than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($14,710 vs. $26,490)
  • Olin College graduates are paying $121 less per month on federal student loans than Muhlenberg College graduates. ($152 vs. $273)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/